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Hey everyone, thanks for tuning in to episode number 322 of our Civil War podcast. I'm

Rich.

And I'm Tracy. Hello y'all. Welcome to the podcast.

As you guys will recall, we ended the last episode with the death of federal first core

commander, Major General John Reynolds, on the morning of Wednesday, July 1st, 1863,

on the western outskirts of the town of Gettysburg, as he sent some iron brigade soldiers charging

into the Herbst Woodlot against the Confederates who were already there, advancing through the

trees. His last words were reportedly, forward men, forward for God's sake, and drive those

fellows out of those woods.

To relieve Beefords beleaguered Union Calvary men on first since Ridge, Reynolds had just

finished ordering the leading elements of his first core to take up positions just north

of the Herbst Woodlot and also over north of the Chambersburg Pike. That was Cutler's

Brigade from Wadsworth Division and Hall's Battery. Reynolds had then ridden back south

of the Chambersburg Pike to direct Wadsworth's second brigade, the iron brigade, into action.

Repel soldiers from Archesburg Aid had already crossed Willoughby Run and were coming up through

the Herbst Woodlot, driving Beefords troopers before them, and so John Reynolds knew there

was no time to lose. It was going to be close, very close. Not wasting a moment, just

as soon as the men of the regiment at the head of the double-quicking iron brigade column,

the second Wisconsin, had hastily formed a line of battle, Reynolds immediately sent

them charging straight into the trees to check the Confederate advance. Then, as he turned

in his saddle to look for the next iron brigade unit coming up, Reynolds was shot in the back

...